Friday, October 13, 2006

Mark Steyn: The End of the World as We Know It

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America Alone:
The End of the World As We Know It

by Mark Steyn

Are you ready for a conflict between America and the rest of the world? In America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, Mark Steyn (the most widely read and wittiest columnist in the world today) argues that that's just what's coming. European and Islamic anti-Americanism, he explains, threatens to leave us isolated in the world: the global situation is rapidly reaching a point at which America will have to confront the enemies of civilization without help from anyone else. And when the world is divided between America and the rest, all those who don't want to see the world shrouded in a new Dark Ages should hope that America wins.

Steyn argues forcefully that much of the Western world as we know it will not survive the twenty-first century, and much of it will effectively disappear within our lifetimes -- including many if not most European countries. He shows how this process is already well advanced, and explains that whether we like the New Order in Europe and the world depends on whether America can summon the will to shape at least part of the emerging global picture. If not, then it will mean the end of the American moment and the beginning of the new Dark Ages: the return of much the planet to a primitive state.

America is facing this life-and-death challenge, says Steyn, because of the Western world's demographic decline; the unsustainability of the welfare state in Europe (as well as in the United States, Canada, and Australia); and the apparent exhaustion of western civilization. Suffused with Steyn's trademark wit and piercing insights, this book calls on us to summon the will to fight this great struggle for Western civilization. In America Alone, Mark Steyn provides an enlightening primer to just how bad things are likely to get, and what we must do now to ensure that our children and grandchildren live in the bright light of freedom.

Illuminated with wit and wisdom by Mark Steyn:

* The hidden reason that the problem of Islamic jihad has exploded across the world since 1970

* Why the threats that the world faces today should be taken much more seriously than the environmental scare-mongering that has been going on since the 60s (and, thanks to Al Gore, continues)

* The likely outcome of today's global situation, in which Islam is militarily weak but ideologically confident -- while the West is militarily strong but ideologically insecure

* Disquieting implications of the fact Islam is a religion, not a race or nationality (as it is commonly portrayed in the West) -- and an explicitly political religion at that

* Why the liberal talk of finding the "root causes" of terrorism in the errors and excesses of Western foreign policy is so wrongheaded

* Why we are witnessing the end of the late twentieth-century progressive welfare democracy

* Why Libya's Colonel Qaddafi is probably correct when he says that "there are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe -- without swords, without guns, without conquests"

* Why the problem Europe faces today is not one of race, but of culture

* How the willingness to subordinate individual liberty to the primacy of society -- as expressed by Nazism, Communism, and more - has blighted Europe for over a century

* The dangerous consequences that are likely to come from manifestations of "cultural sensitivity" -- such as the fact that U.S. guards at Gitmo must handle copies of the Koran only when wearing gloves because the detainees regard infidels as "unclean"

* How the terrorist attacks in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005 -- along with other events such as the murder of Theo van Gogh -- were the opening shots of a European civil war

* The little-noticed reason why America's European "allies" failed to grasp the significance of September 11

* Why the progressive Left can be in favor of Big Government or population control but not both -- and how that mutual incompatibility is about to plunge Europe into societal collapse

* Sobering facts about how advanced civilizational suicide already is in Japan and Russia

* How mosques in the West serve as recruiters for the jihad and play an important role in ideological subordination and cell discipline

* Why the Spanish government was so eager to appease the jihad terrorists after the Madrid bombings of March 2004

* How oil isn't the principal Saudi export, Islamic jihad ideology is -- and our oil money bankrolls its spread

* Why the war against global Islamic jihad will be harder to win the longer it goes on

* How Western analysts continue to fall into the error of thinking that if a violent Muslim has no ties to Al-Qaeda, he cannot be a terrorist and poses no threat

* Europe's suicidal multicultural malaise -- and why jihadists understand that the Continent is ripe for the taking in a way that America isn't

* Why it is so important for Americans and others who want their families to enjoy the blessings of life in a free society to understand that the life we've led since 1945 in the Western world is very rare in human history

* How the ultimate victory of Islam in America can be avoided not by more government but by less: by government returning to the citizenry the primal responsibilities it has taken from them in the modern era

7 comments:

  1. Won't the improvements in technology outweigh the left-wing economic policies? People are much better off now than they have ever been.

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  2. So Steve, do you agree with this guy's take on this? At every point? Should I just barricade the house, hide the kids, and buy some guns? Just wondering...

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  3. I agree with most of the summary. But it's necessary for us to make smart, effective use of our military assets in the counterattack on global jihad, viz., Syria or Iran's WMD program.

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  4. Military force vs. islamic strongholds is quite an absurd method of combatting radical, violent islam. For one thing, its stateless, for another it is ideological, and fueled by the perception of imperialistic aims backed by military power.

    American militarism has created radical islam. So how in the world will more stupid (and amoral) foreign policy ratchet down the hostility. We let the genie out of the bottle. More of the same will only create more terrorists, until what? Our govt shrugs its shoulders and says "Oh well, now we HAVE TO nuke 'em"?

    Funny, I don't think God condones that sort of logic. And "them" happens to be men-made-in-God's-image. It's time to start thinking of these persons as human beings. Maybe some of them do think of you as an insect. Does that make it right for you to return the favor?

    You don't combat an ideology or religion with physical means. It's a fools errand to think that by killing zillions of arab muslims, you will eliminate islam, and eradicate evil thoughts. Wasn't that the error of Pol Pot? of communism? of naziism? of ancient Rome vs. Christianity?

    All that's happenning right now is hate-breeding, and the curtailing of missionary effectiveness, not only in islamic countries, but everywhere. America has lost goodwill around the world. And instead of introspection, we bemoan the fact that "no one understands us." Well, maybe they do understand us, and we don't understand us.

    Why should we think that God supports our stand--militarily or ideologically--against islam, when the wickedness of the west may well be more nauseating to God than militant islam? Maybe islam is God's hammer today?

    But since the spiritual battle is the real battle, islam will not be defeated by "democracy" (a false religion) or nukes, because God will not let it happen. He will not let men, with their idolatry and illegitimate means, claim his victory.

    There is no true victory that is not a moral victory. And there is no genuine defeat where there is moral victory. Americans know their govt bludgeons entire nations for the sins of a few. Americans know their govt now justifies torture in the name of expediency. Pragmatism will sap every ounce of moral will in this nation, until embracing islam seems like a positively moral choice. It's already happenning on the left wing, and its migrating rightward.

    It's high time for true Christians to self-consciously distance themselves from the pragmatists, and others seeking amoral political & military solutions to these life-and-death issues.

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  5. BGB. Ignoring the anti-Americanism, as I long ago learned to do. Being a European, it is not my place to volunteer an opinion.

    Whatever the origin of Islamic militancy (and I believe that is more complex than a view that blames America only, and looks only to the recent past), it exists now, and pointing to the past saying 'I wouldn't have done that.' We are where we are. Millitant Islam exists, and we now have to deal with it.

    If a man wishes to slay me, I am entitled fight back. But in the long run, the West will survive ONLY if it deserves to survive. When the Eastern Roman Empire had a strong, united society, it was able to resist Islam, even make gains against it. But when they felt secure and started brawling about the spoils of empire, the Empire fell.

    On moral victory, I would note that the Copts of Egypt achieved a moral victory when they peacefully surrendered to violent Islam. They are now a persecuted minority. Anyone want to follow their example?

    Now, may we have your solution, rather than mere rhetoric? Mark Steyn has at least put forward an idea. You have not.

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  6. Hiraeth. Do you think I'm anti-american? Why? Would it be fair to label the OT prophets "anti-israel" because they acknowledged their own wicked land, ripe for judgment? Or were they really the "pro-israel" faction? My observational judgments should not be used to conveniently label me. I would like to be known as someone "on the Lord's side" and no other. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

    Yes, governments have to deal with the situation as it now is. The problem is with unprincipled pragmatists who have no moral constraints by which they willingly govern their actions, and act on behalf of others--me for example.

    The fact is, I am sure you do not countenance this principle: "survival at ANY cost." Why? Because you know that God will not exhonerate such a stance. Better to die a righteous man! Survival by sinning would be a crime against God. Islamic suicide bombers trying to ensure their people's survival come to mind...

    So radical islam is older than western (and american) meddling. So what? We are responsible for the salt we've rubbed in the wound, for the gasoline we've thrown on the fire. Bad moves. Time to own it, and try to restitute. At least try a little mitigation, eh? But, even strategic withdrawal isn't popular at the ballot box.

    Today, I'd rather be an egyptian evangelical (reformed) than a monophystite copt, or a priviledged muslim, even if it meant 2d class citizen status. That is the sovereign God at work through a reformation that happenned in the western church, but never in the eastern. Those believers, and the rest of the millions of Christians in egypt (and the rest of the middle east) face more trouble today over "christian west" meddling in middle east affairs than they did previously.

    And how will their situation change, if it does change before the 2d advent? By rising up in an armed coup? Please. God uses the gospel to topple the proud towers of men. This world's governments are almost universally opposed to King Jesus. Psalm 2 describes today's state of affairs as well as any other time.

    America's heritage is part of that "pointing at the past" you mention. "We are where we are," so dealing with it means taking a prophetic stance against ALL ungodliness and wickedness, in high places and low.

    My main problen with the proposed solution, as presented in the above ad, is this: where is God acknowledged? This is a secularized "solution", meaning NO SOLUTION AT ALL. My "proposal"? First occupy the biblical, moral high ground, the church needs reformation, clean our own house--if these things don't happen, then rest assured we will not be spared the fate of Europe as it goes the way of the Byzantines. Ours is merely a generational lag, the consolation of those anscestors some of us still honor.

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  7. BGB, I wouldn't even begin to call you 'anti-American.' Indeed, I did not use the accusation, rather, I said I would ignore those things that seemed to me to be anti-American, as It is not my place to judge them.

    The origin of Islamic miltancy is the expulsion of Mohahmed from Mecca. The present wave has its origins in the nineteenth century, and was reinforced by the creation the state of Israel and the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan. It is American egoism to assume that the USA is solely to blame.

    Again, I fail to see the 'we.' As I have said, I am not an American. My country at one time ruled over more Muslims than any other nation on earth. I do not apologise for the fact that it brought them peace and prosperity, along with the cance to hear the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

    Now, as a European, and one living in a city with a large Islamic population, as well as one who has travelled in the Middle East, I can tell you that the vast majority of Muslims are not jihadis. Freed from the oppression of Islamic government, they can be preached to.

    Now, may I be so bold as to suggest that we have to adopt a two-barreled approach. The jihadis must be fought as the enemies they are. But the church must offer more than that. Let the Church of God humble herself and pray for revival. If Revival comes to the West, I have no doubt that Muslims will be converted.

    As for Islam's rear, I would note that large numbers of Berbers in North Africa are turning the Christ, while Christianity in Egypt is enjoying a resurgence. If the governments of these countries are concerned that persecution will bring the wrath of the West down on them, this process can continue. But if the only answer is a retreat into pietism, then I fear Europe will be lost to Islam, as will millins of souls that now sit in darkness.

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